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, S:.. i 3,·,»'1 • •* • r---1••' •-41 L,j • I " Gaps needed in both rails . --•1N , --•2N• -•3•\• 1 1S 2S 3S '\ ARN Section 3Nl i controllers-* Ipoweri 1 pack I • L-• Power feeder Common power return Fig. 5 SECTION CONTROL WITH ADDED CONTROLLER UNITS Normally, section control is accomplished by connecting several sets of speed and direction controllers to a single large power pack. One set is needed for each of the sections. Gaps are needed in both rails at every block boundary. Two wires are needed to feed each of the blocks. l 1 Gaps needed in both rails -7M 1S A .1,036=.1.':*=*te- -- •: .036: . 1 --13N 1 3S B I »1 ARS•-• 1 0 C 18,.0 ./ Limited to three sections unless SECTION CONTROL WITH ISS & APovver pack with three sets of controllers (twin :ype also made) •IL Fig. 6 MULTICONTROLLER POWER PACK This is exactly the same in principle as Fig. 5. The difference is that the speed and direction controller sets shown in Fig. 5 are now hidden inside the power pack. While convenient for quick setup, this sort of control has the fault that it tends to limit you to too few sections. Section control has other inconve- a section-control system. This is when niences, besides cost, that should be men- it crosses the gaps from one section to tioned before getting to better things. the next. For a moment it gets its power Suppose you do have two trains running through two speed controllers at once, around or along a route with at least four and the voltage drop below 12 volts is sections. Let's say that one train runs at halved; the engine lurches ahead and normal speed on 8 volts, but the other then resumes normal speed. would dash away on that. Then you must continually adjust each of the four speed controllers down, then up, as the trains follow each other about the oval. If loco won't cross the gaps We get letters from modelers complaining that when they line up the Frossover Of course, some fellows let two trains on a layout like that in Fig. 7 and run the enter the same sections. Here you have engine over the crossover, all is well until troubles too. When two trains are in the the engine is past the gaps and the tender ' same section the voltag6 drop in the is still behind them. Then everything speed controller is double that when only goes dead; and it's not a short circuit, one train is in the section. Thus a train running on 8 volts (4 volts less than 12 either. This happens when a fellow uses either second train enters its section, because oval, or else one of the best of the twonow the track voltage will be 8 volts less and three-throttle packs such as Model than 12 volts, or about 4 volts total. If Rectifier Corp. Golden Dual Loco Pack you allow for the fact that actual power pack voltage is more than 12 volts, things are all the worse. Since speed regulation is poor with sec- tion control, the tendency is to run trains too fast. This spoils some of the realism possible with good locomotives. Even a single train has poor speed regulation at one point when running on •-••1•8-insideova, / Fig. 7 OVALS AS SECTIONS •A a• •12.6\ The two-track oval is often wired as a twosection railroad, but this is not adequate for handling the situation ·when one train wants to cross over from one oval to the other oval. A cab consists of a controller group and a set of toggles for connecting to the desired blocks. L- -Elu:T,- --1 Fig. 8 ONE CAB (with block selection panel) 42 Model Railroader Section A - outside oval "1•71036 r- 1 1 1 -7N 1 -is -·.2 1 IT switches 4 1 r 1 1 1-19 11 r 11/ 1 .25 | -35 Direction controller -------- - 4RS 2 0 036#1--1-i 1 L_ Selector unit --- t .4... 1.::s. 1 • 1 1 -3 switches Gaps in one rail often sufficient -\ 4RN volts) will suddenly slow or stop when a two separate power packs, one for each ' or the Golden Tripack These deluxe power packs are really entirely separate power packs m the same case. If you have this trouble, just run a wire from the left-hand ternunal of one output terminal pair on the back of the power pack to the left terminal of the other pair (or pairs) The case for cab-control wiring Now that we have tortured section con- trol and burned lt at the stake, let us add that there are times when section control is a good Idea for instance, when testing a tram or when running round and round for display while you do other things. It lS also often used on railroads that have ATC (automatic train control). However, it is never necessary to wire a railroad especially for section control. If you wire for cab control instead, you can revert to section control anytlme you wish by • • a second pack is added 1